What can increase the risk of infertility?

According to the CDC, approximately 6% of all women aged 15-44, experience infertility. Infertility is defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.Women in the US are delaying childbirth into their late 30’s and 40’s of life. For couples trying to achieve pregnancy where the age of the woman is 35 or older, approximately one in six of those couples may have fertility problems (CDC, 2021) . Women over the age of 35 have an increased risk of fertility issues because of diminishing ovarian reserve, risk of other health conditions interfering with pregnancy, increased risk of genetic abnormalities causing miscarriages, and an increased risk of miscarriages overall. Other causes of female infertility include extremes of weight (extremely underweight or overweight), smoking, alcohol use or abuse, extreme states of stress (physical or emotional), or any medical condition that may cause loss of regular menses.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 13). Infertility. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm. 

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